Horris Grows Down

My daughter enjoys Maxwell's Mountain so much that I just had to purchase Shari Becker's latest book, Horris Grows Down. It is completely different from her first story, but just as enjoyable. My daughter, who is almost 4 years old, laughs every time we read about how both Horris and his parents have to carry out daily activities in "special ways" to adjust to his large size - imagine how funny it is for a child to hear that Horris has to brush his teeth with a hairbrush! She also loves counting the numerous items throughout the book (milk jugs, sandwiches, cookies, etc.). We have read the story so many times that she now knows much of it by heart. As well, my husband and I like the story's quirky humour.

I gave this book to my 3 1/2 year old granddaughter who absolutely adores it. She keeps asking me to read it to her again and again. She particularly enjoys listening to Horris's adventures at Bernard BackelBass's Box Factory as she is amused by the concept of a young, but very big, boy "working". As much as I like watching my granddaughter's reaction to the story, I also like reading it to her as I get a kick out of the off-beat humour. I highly recommend this book!

This story captured the attention of my children and was a fun read out loud. What child doesn't imagine (or dream of) being "big"? Big enough to go to work just like mom or dad but as the moral of the story goes and what Horris himself decides -- the best job of all is simply being a kid.

I love this book. It is what we in the publishing business call "smart." It has a story that every three or four year old loves to imagine: he or she gets to walk in their Daddy's shoes! Do what their Daddy does! Even "play" in that magical place where Daddy goes every day: work! Only when Horris - who was simply born big - gets there he is still a kid, doing what a kid does, loving what a kid loves. And - here is what is so clever about this book - the wit goes both ways. Great for kids and downright fun for the adult reader, too. Smart. An outstanding choice for any adult to give to or share with a child. Reminds me of The Shrinking of Treehorn by Florence Heidi, which I also loved.